Born from a deep admiration for the timeless elegance of saris, fashion brand Sari For Change was conceived to breathe new life into saris waiting for the next generation to appreciate them. Creative and Growth Director Iman Ganijee and founder Rayana Edwards speak to GLAMOUR about how they celebrate sartorial beauty while touching lives.
GLAMOUR: What inspired you to create Sari For Change?
Sari For Change: We’ve always loved the elegance of the sari and the graceful way in which it wraps around a woman’s body. Knowing that saris are often kept aside in every Indian woman’s home, waiting to be passed down to the next generation, we wondered why we weren’t using them differently. Saris often sit in cupboards gathering dust, waiting for the right occasion or next generation to enjoy them. As designers, we love working with silks and chiffons, so it made perfect sense for us to start experimenting with these precious saris.
G: Can you tell us more about the training programme you’ve established for women?
SFC: As a result of the high unemployment rate in South Africa, we wanted to create earning opportunities for women who needed skills and away to think beyond their current circumstances. At Sari For Change, we guide women through a three-tier training programme and, as they transition into garment-making, they become part of our supplier network. We ensure that they are earning throughout the process, even while they’re training. Our aim is to empower these women to eventually start their own businesses while cultivating a mindset of responsibility and personal growth.
G: How do you balance sustainability with fashion?
SFC: The main challenge has been placement and positioning within the industry, as we often live in pre-defined boxes. Our concept transcends these norms. Initially we faced resistance, with some labelling our work as “too Indian”, “not African enough”, or dismissing it as “second-hand garments”. Despite these obstacles, we gained appreciation from communities that understood our intentions and aligned with our mission of being global citizens. Our training programmes take up to nine months per tier, and this can sometimes create bottlenecks in productivity. However, after over 10 years, our core group has transitioned into Sari For Change suppliers and makers.
G: What is the creative process behind turning saris into bespoke garments, and how do you ensure each piece is unique?
SFC: Our creative process is deeply rooted in storytelling and cultural fusion. We begin by curating saris based on their colour, texture, and the unique narrative each one carries. From there, we reimagine them into contemporary silhouettes, blending traditional elements with modern aesthetics. Our family’s evolving identity is a constant inspiration spanning Kenyan, Yemeni, Cape Malay and Gujarati roots, while also embracing Pedi, Sotho, Zulu and English influences through multi-cultural marriages. This rich and ever-expanding cultural tapestry shapes our design philosophy. We love playing with textiles, layering textures and experimenting with flow and structure, ensuring every garment reflects both the complexity of femininity and the singular beauty of each sari.
G: How does it feel to have saved 15 000 saris from landfill waste and creating 8 000 unique garments?
SFC: We are thrilled that what started as a small idea is now evolving into a brand that has pioneered this space. In the early years, sustainability was not widely embraced, and we had to act as fashion activists. Our greatest triumph is not just the number of garments made, or saris saved, but the transformation of the women we train and the impact we’ve had on their lives.
G: What are your goals, and how do you plan to expand the impact of Sari For Change?
SFC: Our immediate focus is on expanding deeper into East Africa while strengthening our supplier relationships in Italy and the UK. We are scaling both our bespoke and wholesale collections, locally and internationally, while growing our network of women entrepreneurs through our Adopt a Hub programme. In the longer term, we are committed to building global awareness around the value of upcycled fashion, slow fashion and social-impact business models like ours, which we have proudly named the “sacred economy”. We envision creating meaningful collaborations with like-minded brands that share our vision of a circular, inclusive fashion industry where people, planet and profit can exist in harmony.
G: Why do you believe more fashion brands should adopt sustainable practices?
SFC: The fashion industry is one of the largest contributors to environmental degradation, and it’s vital that we make a shift toward more sustainable practices. This goes beyond merely using eco-friendly materials; it’s about rethinking how we produce, consume and dispose of fashion. Sustainability is a necessity, not just a trend. As brands, we must take responsibility for the complete life-cycle of the garments we produce and consider their impact on the planet, people and communities. It’s time for the industry to embrace this change for the sake of our future, and our communities’.
G: What other sources of inspiration influence your designs?
SFC: Feminine energy, flow and elegance are at the heart of our design philosophy. The sari itself, with its six metres of fabric draped gracefully across the body, is a constant muse for us.
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